Car-signal.



L. R. BOSTICK.

CAR SIGNAL.

APPLICATION-FILED AUG.3. 19w

1,290,495. Patented Jan. 7,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

L.R..Bqsiiciz3,

L R. BOSTICK.

CAR SIGNAL.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.3. 1916 Patented Jam, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Ema.

nals, of which the following LEVY R. BOSTICK, OF NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA.

CAR-SIGNAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August a, 1916. Serial No. 112,9 4.

To all whom it may concern.-

-Be it known that I, LEVY R. Bos'rrcx, a citizen of the United States,residing at New Orleans, in the parish of Orleans and State ofLouisiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCar-Sigisa specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in signal devices for streetcars and the object of the invention is to afi'ord complete protectionto passengers leaving the car, to prevent rear end collisions and tosave loss of time through unnecessary slowing up of approaching cars.

With these various objects in view the invention consists in the novelfeatures of construction hereinafter described, pointed out.

in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figurelis a side elevation of a car provided with my signal device, and partlybroken away.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits, certain boxes being shownin section.

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a car showing the location of the boxthereon.

Fig. 4 is a section on the line H of Fig.

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

In the drawings 1 and 2 designate suitable boxes of wood or' metal whichare placed on the front and rear of the car, these terms being relative,and the boxes being placed above the headlight of the car.

Each box contains a bell 3 and an electric light bulb 4 and suitablefront and side openings 5 are formed in each box in alinement with thebulbs, said openings having red colored panes therein. Or if desired.the lamp bulb may be coloredred. lVithin the car vestibule and in easyreach of the motorman and conductor are pivoted switches 7, one at eachend of the car, and adapted to close certain circuits, when brought intoengagement with contact points 6.

A suitable battery8 is venient point in the car.

From the battery lead conductors a and b. A circuit 0 is formed bysuitable Wire leading from conductor a to one of the contacts 6,completed by the cotiperating switch 6 thence to the lamp in box 1 andthen to a bell in box 2 and back to conductor I) placed at any conand tothe battery. A circuit d is also prpvided leading from conductor athrough the other switch, located at the rear end of the car, to thelamp in box 2, the bell in box 1, and back to the battery.

These circuitsmay be run in any desired manner so long as the desiredresult is obtained.

Both circuits are normally broken atthe switches.

It will now be obvious that if the motorman brings the switch lever 7 athis end of the car into engagement with the contact 6 the lamp 4 in box1 will be lighted and bell 3 in box 2, on the rear, will ring. The lightwill continue to show and the bell to ring as long as the circuit 0 isleft closed and current is supplied from battery 8.

This permits the motorman to have free use'of both hands while thesignals are op erating which would not be the case if ordinary pushbuttons were employed to close the circuit.

Should the conductor close the switch at his end of the car the reverseset of signals would be given, and if both switches are closed bothbells and both lights will be-. come operative.

I am aware of the fact that bells have been placed on cars to warndischarged passengers against the approach of a car from an oppositedirection and on an adjacent track; and I am also aware that signallights have been provided for cars.

But the sounding or displaying of a single signal, or signals at one endof a car only, do not give the full measure of protection designed to befurnished by my device.

Assuming that box 1 is at the front of the car and that said car onapproaching a stopping place receives a signal in the usual manner tostop to discharge passengers, the

motorman seeing an approaching car on the other track moves switch lever7 to position on the contact 6. A light is displayed in box 1 at thefront and the bell 3 is sounded in box 2 at the rear. The first signal,from box 1 warns the motorman of the approaching car that he is about topass a car stopping to let passengers off. a night signal when suchwarning is usually necessary. The passenger is also warned by the bellat the rear end that there is an approaching car on the other track, andthis signal is desired at all times, day as well as night.

i This is of course Patented Jan. '7, 1919.

. The constant necessity of checking the speed of a carevery timeanother car is passed at.

a corner, crossing or stopping point causes much loss of time, and muchof this could be avoided by giving a signal to the approaching car whenspeed was to be reduced.

Furthermore it often occurs at night that there is a closely followingcar. In such cases the conductor can also throw his switch and the lightsignal will be given at the rear, thus notifying the following car thatthe one ahead is coming to a stop, either to discharge or take on apassenger, or through the trolley leaving the wire. It is for this lastreason that I employ a batteryseparate from the power supplied tooperate the car, so that the signals are operative even when the caritself is without current for either motive or lighting purposes.

I therefore rovide for three distinct signahng operations, allindependent of the i aeasee motive power of the car, viz., to the approaching car, to the passengers, and to a ranged at one end of the carfor closing one of said circuits and means arranged at the opposite endfor closing the other circuit.

2. The combination with a car, a bell arranged at each end of the car, asignal light arranged at each end of the car, a normally open switcharranged at each end of the car, a battery, an electric circuitincluding said battery, the signal light and switch at the front end andthe bell at the rear end of the car, and a second circuit including thebattery, the switch and signal light at the rear end of the car and thebell at the forward end of the car, as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

' LEVY R. BOSTICK.

